Jia Rong and Princess Shuo chuckled; she looked down on Consort Tong.
Spoiled and emboldened, Princess Jiarong and Princess Shuo acted without any restraint when they met Consort Tong.
Do people of the Aisin Gioro family have anything to fear from outsiders?
To prevent Consort Tong from harboring resentment towards Tong Wanyan, Princess Jiarong said to Consort Tong in an annoyed tone, "Fortunately, Consort Tong knew to bring an extra person along, which can be considered as avoiding suspicion."
After saying that, she turned to Tong Wanle, who looked like a little white flower: "Why did you have to bring Tong Gege? Even though I don't often go to the palace, I know that the Crown Prince was furious last time and strictly forbade Tong Gege from stepping into Yuqing Palace. The Fourth Prince is the same way, showing no favoritism to his own concubine."
"Are you doing this to disregard the wishes of your juniors, or to disobey the Crown Prince's orders?" Jia Rong and Princess Shuo easily redirected Consort Tong's hatred towards themselves, and they were quite pleased with themselves.
Tong Wanle shrank back slightly, unwilling to be left out, and asserted her presence: "Master has always been very good to me and has never said such a thing."
"That's right. I've lived in the palace for so long, how could I not know about this? You've made up all this for Consort Tong, I'm afraid even the Prince can't protect you." Consort Tong felt emboldened after being provoked by Tong Wanle.
Tong Wanyan chuckled lightly: "Whether she said it or not, Consort, you may investigate this matter as you see fit. Jia Rong is an aunt of the Aisin Gioro family, a woman of high status and nobility, she has no reason to tell such lies."
"Although I don't know why the concubine came to Yuqing Palace, considering the heat of the day, and since you've already come, I couldn't very well not invite you in for a short while. But now that Consort Tong is here, if you don't have anything else to do, please go back quickly. Otherwise, I'll have to go and invite the Empress Dowager." Tong Wanyan's words were forceful, but her tone was gentle.
Consort Tong disliked the Empress Dowager. Her naive and aloof nature, which had been protected by the Imperial Noble Consort out of consideration for her reputation, now made her seem somewhat lacking in manners.
She said, "My sister used to tell me you were a good person, with the demeanor of a woman from the Tong family. But now I see, a concubine like you is just not presentable. How can you drive your elders away like this? Besides, what kind of person is the Empress Dowager? How can a concubine like you invite her so easily?"
"It seems the concubine has forgotten that, in principle, you are also a concubine! Moreover, in this harem, there is only one woman who can be called the principal wife," Princess Jiarong said with a sidelong glance.
"How dare you!" Consort Tong's selflessness was truly touching. In her scathing rebuke, she even mercilessly insulted herself.
Princess Jiarong, with her neck stiff, retorted, "Apart from the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, no one in this palace can speak to me with such boldness. Concubine, please have some self-respect!"
Instantly, Consort Tong trembled with anger.
Tong Wanyan glanced at Xia Zhu and told her to shield Jia Rong and Gege Shuo behind her.
"Chunque, please ask Consort Tong and Princess Tong to return. Otherwise, they might run into the Crown Prince later and give outsiders reason to speculate. Consort Tong doesn't care about her reputation, but our Lord is pure and innocent and cannot be tainted. Besides, I'm afraid Consort Tong wouldn't want to spend much time with me either; we dislike each other." Tong Wanyan's face turned cold, no longer giving Consort Tong any face.
Consort Tong thought that if she stood there, Tong Wanyan would fawn over her.
In any case, she is a concubine. In a few years, when the imperial harem holds a grand ceremony, she will at least be promoted to the rank of concubine, or even the rank of noble concubine.
Given her status, Tong Wanyan was merely a concubine; how could she dare to upset her? They should be busy trying to appease her!
Regardless of what Consort Tong thought, Tong Wanyan only remembered that unofficial history said that Emperor Kangxi was angry that Yinreng had affairs with the concubines in the harem, which caused the father and son's relationship to deteriorate.
Whether it's true or false, it's better to avoid trouble.
Su Jixiang had just taken a shower and changed into clean clothes before serving him.
Following Chunque's instructions, he walked up from the door with a beaming smile and bowed to Consort Tong: "Consort, please."
Looking at his beaming face, Consort Tong felt extremely ashamed.
"What kind of thing is this? You stink and you dare to come near me. Get out of my way!" Consort Tong vented her anger on Su Jixiang.
Su Jixiang lowered her head awkwardly, secretly sniffed to make sure she didn't smell, and then looked up and continued to smile at Consort Tong.
As the saying goes, "When you beat a dog, you have to consider its owner." Consort Tong's blatant displaced anger was something Tong Wanyan could not tolerate.
"Xia Zhu, please ask Consort Tong to return to the palace." Tong Wanyan emphasized the word "please".
Xia Zhu has always been quite bold. At Tong Wanyan's command, she carried the person away all by herself.
In terms of strength, Su Jixiang is not as strong as her.
When the palace maids brought by Consort Tong saw this, they tried to step forward to snatch it, but the palace maids from Yuqing Palace quickly stopped them.
To be fair, in terms of rank and the power and influence of their masters, the servants of Yuqing Palace never felt weak.
Aside from the people in Ning Shou Palace and Qian Qing Palace, who are not to be trifled with, the servants in Yu Qing Palace dare to act arrogantly wherever they go.
Emperor Kangxi first doted on Yinreng, and now he shows even greater favor to Hongzhao.
Of all the people in the Forbidden City, only those who are completely out of their minds would offend the Yuqing Palace. Unfortunately, lately there seem to be quite a few people who are out of their minds.
Before Consort Tong and Tong Wanle could have their fill of revelry, they were half-heartedly sent out of the house.
By the time they caught their breath, the doors of Yuqing Palace were already closed, and no amount of shouting could open them.
This tough stance darkened Consort Tong's expression.
Half an hour ago, she made a solemn promise to Tong Wanle that she would teach Tong Wanyan a lesson in how to behave properly.
Now, it's her turn to be taught a lesson.
"This is outrageous!" Consort Tong exclaimed, her face flushed with anger.
Has this gone too far?
Don't be ridiculous! Emperor Kangxi was the supreme ruler of the Qing Dynasty. Saying that in the Forbidden City would be suicidal!
Before long, the Empress Dowager sent people to drag Consort Tong away, and without saying a word, she locked her in the small Buddhist hall.
Emperor Kangxi was about to go to the front lines, a tense time, so how could he allow her to utter such ominous words?
When Consort Tong knelt in the dark little Buddhist hall, her face was full of confusion.
Since entering the palace, she had always had a smooth and successful life, and everyone gave her face. Emperor Kangxi also doted on her. Shouldn't kneeling in the small Buddhist hall be a hardship suffered only by low-ranking concubines without family background?
Not long after Consort Tong left, Yinreng returned to Yuqing Palace.
There was no need for siblings to be discreet, so Yinreng, Tong Wanyan, Jiarong, and Princess Shuo dined together without anyone criticizing them.
The table was set with golden koi carp; even before taking a bite, one's mouth was already watering, and the sight was irresistible.
Jia Rong and Princess Shuo secretly swallowed, glanced at Tong Wanyan and Yinreng, and then waited demurely for Yinreng to start eating first.
"Your Highness, please go first!" Jia Rong and Princess Shuo were holding back their anger.
Yinreng glanced at her and instructed the servant to put a piece of fish in his bowl.
Jia Rong and Princess Shuo's eyes immediately lit up, staring at the koi fish with joy and excitement.
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